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Disposable vapes are set to be banned from April 2025, the Environment Minister announced today.
Deputy Steve Luce confirmed the timelines for the ban in the States Assembly this morning in response to an oral question from Deputy Lucy Stephenson.
It comes after politicians announced plans to follow other jurisdictions by banning disposable vapes in Jersey for "both environmental and health-related reasons" in September.
Pictured: Environment Minister Steve Luce confirmed that the proposed ban would be introduced through an extension of the Single Use Plastics Law.
The Environment Minister confirmed that the proposed ban has been subject to consultation and would be introduced through an extension of the Single Use Plastics Law.
This law already prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic bags and single-use-paper bags, and was designed to be able to prohibit other single-use items.
The Minister said the proposition will be lodged in early September for debate in late October.
If passed, there would be a six-month implementation period before the ban takes effect in April 2025 – which is around 10 months from now.
The Environment Minister said he will write to retailers this week to give them advance notice to clear existing disposable vape stocks over the next ten months.
During the debate, concerns were raised about the accessibility of these products to children.
Constable Kevin Lewis criticised e-cigarette flavours like "vanilla, popcorn, cherry, and bubblegum", which he said are “extremely attractive to children and young people”.
Meanwhile, Deputy Stephenson said: "I heard this week of a recent [vaping] case involving Year 4 and 5 students at a Jersey school – so eight and nine-year-olds being found vaping during break time."
Pictured: The 2021 Jersey Children and Young People Survey found that 58% of 16- to 17-year-olds had tried e-cigarettes, with about one-third using them occasionally or regularly.
In response, Deputy Steve Luce said that further moves are planned to restrict vape advertising, packaging and flavours that appeal to young people.
He said: "Unfortunately, we know vaping use among young people in Jersey has increased with the availability, affordability and marketing of single-use vapes.
"I would strongly anticipate proposals in the future strategy would include regulatory options to reduce demand and supply for all vaping products – for example, through advertising and packaging restrictions."
He added that the Health Minister is expected to bring proposals to regulate all vaping products – not just disposables – which could include advertising restrictions in line with tobacco rules.
I welcome the news that @GovJersey are finalising plans for a ban on disposable vapes within 10 months, and work is underway to address advertising & packaging too. We need this asap - this week I learned of a recent case at a local school of year 4&5s caught vaping at play time
— Lucy Stephenson (@LucyStevoJSY) June 11, 2024
While Deputy Luce said vaping is "preferential to smoking tobacco", he added it is not preferable to "breathing fresh air".
"Potential health risks mean we need to take that into account," he said.
The Environment Minister also announced plans to look at a ban on ordering disposable vapes online once the in-person ban is in place.
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